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NASCAR says rear-end rule change is really just a rules ‘reminder’

Modifications to the rear-end of Cup cars will be under a little more scrutiny, says NASCAR. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

When is a “rule adjustment” not technically a “rule change?” When NASCAR calls it a “rules reminder,” that’s when. But starting next weekend in Chicago, the “adjustment” will become a “change.”

On Friday, at Richmond International Raceway, officials clarified what had been widely reported as a major rule change regarding rear-end setups on Sprint Cup cars. A technical bulletin distributed was issued to remind drivers and crew chiefs how far teams can go with new setups. It was issued on the heels of allegations that Hendrick Motorsports and other high-profile teams have figured out an advantage.

“The only change is that now, starting next weekend, our inspectors will check those rear-end setups both before and after races,” said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. “The technical bulletin just reminded teams what they could do. It reconfirmed what they’ve known all along. Other than the inspection part, nothing has changed.”

But starting next weekend, the guidelines will place limits on the rear truck-arm front mounting bushings. Starting next week, those bushings can have only a quarter-inch total movement in one direction. The bushings must be designed to move freely rather than locking down in one position. Previously, teams using softer bushings allowed the truck arms to have more give and provide better rear steer through the corners.

Several drivers--Brad Keselowski being the most outspoken--claimed Hendrick’s rear-end setups were providing an advantage. But while NASCAR said there’s nothing illegal about the set-ups, it decided to limit the movement and add pre- and post-race inspection at the Chase opener.

Jeff Gordon, in fact, said it was no big deal. “When we presented it to NASCAR for approval, they didn’t act like it was something they’d never seen before,” the Hendrick driver said. “I don’t even think we were the first ones to do it." Gordon said almost everyone in the garage is doing the same thing now.

“We all started working on it once we saw what [Hendrick] was doing,” said Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch. “It’s follow-the-leader. You really don’t have many secrets here in the garage area for very long. We started going to work on those kinds of things, too, and trying to manipulate some of the same things they were doing.”

Sprint Cup Director John Darby said the tech bulletin was more a confirmation of the rules already in place and the bushing parameters previously set. “This doesn’t change the rules we’ve already had,” he said. “It reconfirms how far teams can go (no more than a quarter-inch) with their rear suspension setups. Teams have found that with a car’s rear-axle steer, more is better as it helps with aero and gets the cars through the corners faster.

“We’re just reminding the teams what the limitations are and that they can’t go past these limitations. We’ll likely address this further in our 2013 rule book.”